(19)

(11)

EP 1 121 224 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 08.08.2001 Bulletin 2001/32 (21) Application number: 99945537.1 (22) Date of filing: 07.09.1999

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: B24B 49/00 (86) International application number: PCT/US9920/417 (87) International publication number: WO 0015/388 (23.03.2000 Gazette 2000/12)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE (30) Priority: 16.09.1998 US 154013 (71) Applicant: BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE, INC. Akron, Ohio 44317 (US)	(72) Inventor: MORGAN, John, R. Wilson, NC 27896 (US) (74) Representative: Fleck, Thomas, Dr. Dipl.-Chem.  Raffay & FleckPatentanwälteGeffckenstrasse 6 20249 Hamburg 20249 Hamburg (DE)